I sat in the last row—because that's the only safe zone if you're trying to avoid disaster magnets. You know, the main characters. I scanned the room with the precision of someone who's died in the prologue before. Just trying to survive in this ruined novel and figure out exactly what not to do.
My first impression in this class? A disaster. Burned to the ground before it even began.
This was my second shot. Maybe my last. So yeah, I needed to know who to talk to—and more importantly, who to avoid like the plague.
Cale was in the first row, naturally. Sitting beside Eris Moonlight.
Cale—the classic lonely protagonist with unresolved trauma.
Eris—the shy heroine who short-circuits whenever he looks her way.
Perfect dysfunctional pair: one doesn't want to talk; the other can't.
Second row—Rayne Valestorm, flanked by his two lackeys. The rival. Future villain. Probably going to start a war by the second arc. His lackeys? Barely have names. Background noise with legs.
Third row—Lyra Evergreen. Heir to the Hermetica Guild. Richest cadet in the room, which says a lot, considering even the princess sitting beside her doesn't flex like Lyra. She'll fund Cale later. Try to get him into her elite squad. She'll chase his shadow while he pretends she doesn't exist.
Classic sugar mommy with a yandere vibe.
And then there's Sana Althea. Princess of the Althea Empire. Tied to Norse prophecies and maybe a couple of end-of-the-world scenarios. They'll call her the Witch of Calamity. She's important. More than the rest.
They were arguing about something pointless, but I wasn't listening. Most of them were supporting characters.
Sana? Sub-heroine, in my opinion. And my favorite character in this cursed novel.
And me? I was sitting next to Emelia Virellis. The same annoying girl I saw the moment I woke up in this mess. Just being near her made my skin crawl.
I wasn't good at communication. She was the opposite.
The instructor, Aurelia Kreios, finally started calling names.
> "Rank 1 – Cale Ashblood."
"Rank 2 – Rayne Valestorm."
"Rank 3 – Eris Moonlight."
…
"Rank 9001 – Lucifer Blackthrone."
Each name felt like a dagger. The more I heard, the more I understood just how much of an extra I was.
Aurelia gave us a brief overview of the semester—just enough to make it clear: this wasn't going to be fun.
According to the novel, today we were picking weapons. First class. Easy, right?
Then she dropped the bomb:
> "Because this is the first class of the semester, all of you must choose a weapon. Make sure to choose according to your attributes in the status window. Once chosen, the weapon can't be changed—not in the Academy of Fate."
Simple enough.
Except it wasn't.
We were led into the armory. High-tech. Sterile. Weapons displayed behind glass like cursed luxury items.
Two categories: modern and traditional.
Modern—fast, sleek, efficient.
Traditional—weighty, legendary, often comes with a prophecy or two.
Me? I'd never held a sword in either of my lives. I wasn't going traditional. I needed something familiar. Something that didn't require a montage and six months of off-screen training.
I reached for a modern weapon.
Then it happened:
> [[Constellation "The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne" is watching you.]]
Well, that's just lovely.
> [[Constellation "The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne" suggests you choose a dagger as your main weapon.]]
A dagger?
Not a bad suggestion, honestly.
Back in middle school, while other kids were playing games, I was diving into martial arts. Systema was my first discipline. Then came MMA, judo, karate… you name it. I trained obsessively. Not for glory—just survival. I believe in self-reliance.
Never expect anything from anyone. Become your own sword and shield.
So, should I accept the Constellation's suggestion?
What's in it for me?
I remembered I had three decent options:
1. A gun-type modern weapon.
2. A dagger—versatile, deadly.
3. A kusarigama. Exotic. Dangerous. Unpredictable.
I muttered under my breath, "What will I gain from accepting your suggestion?"
[[You have shown hesitation in the face of suggestion.]]
[[The Constellation "The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne" finds this amusing.]]
[[You have received a Sub Quest.]]
---
[[Sub Quest: Choose the Dagger]]
Description:
Choose the dagger as your main weapon, despite your mastery in complex martial arts. This act of ironic humility will entertain the watching Constellation.
Condition:
Deliberately and publicly select the dagger as your weapon of choice.
Reward:
Unlocks Stage 2: Thought Reflection (Eye of Tsukoyomi)
Failure Penalty:
Lose access to the Thought Reflection skill.
---
Now I had a decision to make.
Choose the dagger… and unlock a skill that sounds like cheating.
Of course I was going to choose it. No second option. It was a no-brainer.
I scanned the armory again—just stalling—when something caught my eye.
Cale was speaking to Lyra.
> "Lyra, why are you choosing a bow? You should choose a sword as your main."
His face was blank. Emotionless.
But I noticed a small shift in his expression. Just a flicker.
What the hell is this emo bastard saying?
> "Why should I?" Lyra snapped, clearly annoyed. Still, since Cale was Rank 1 and a prime recruit for her guild, she tried not to lash out too hard.
Damn. Expected of the Sovereign of Silver Throne. She's cool as hell.
Come to think of it… later in the novel, Lyra does switch to a sword. She becomes the infamous Demon of the Sword Valley. So maybe Cale's trying to push her toward that path?
Still, the tone… that's not how you talk to someone you just met.
Is this a regressor syndrome?
Should I help him?
…Nah. Getting involved with that psycho will only bring disaster. I should avoid him like the plague.
> "I mean, it's more suitable for you, Lyra," Cale added, still deadpan.
Seriously? Is this guy for real?
I was about to say something—maybe step in—when a loud voice cut through the air like a blade.
> "HEY YOU! Got something to say? Say it to my face, two-faced bastard! How dare a traitor like you talk to Lyra like that?! I'll kill you!"
Rayne Valestorm. Wild eyes. Holding a dagger in each hand like a rabid wolf.
> "Come at me," Cale replied, calm as ever. Like he was dealing with a barking neighbor dog.
Unbelievable. Look at this emo bastard. Everything he does radiates main character aura.
> "You two—my office. After the selection," Aurelia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Of course she did. They're both top-ranked. Future protectors of the empire.
---
Author's Note:
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